Stabilized chloroethylenic polymer



Patented Mar. 17, 1964 United States Patent "ice Exam le STABIHZED CHLOROETHYLENIC POLYMER A 52.5 percent sol ds latex having a polymer composi- LATEXES tion of 25 percent vinylidene chloride and 75 percent Edwin Blake and James J. Dahl, Midland, Mich., vinyl chloride was formulatedimthe conventional manassignors to The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, 5 ner. One portion of the latex was set aside as a control. -a a corporation of Delaware One percent sodium epoxystearate was added to a second N0 Dl'flwillg- Filed P 1960, 23,613 portion of the latex. The latex altered by the additiom- 15 Claims (CL 260-23) of the sodium epoxystearate had definitely superior mechanical stability compared to the control latex. Further, films were formed from the two latex samples and, following heating to 150 C. for various periods of time, were tested for light transmission in a Beckman spectrophotometer (Model D 4). The percent transmission at 420 mg per mil of film thickness is as follows:

This invention concerns improvements in polymer latex compositions and, more particularly, concerns the mechanical stability of chloroethylenic polymer containing latexes and the thermal stability of films prepared therefrom.

It is well known that chlorine containing polymer compositions such as the chloroethylenic copolymer latexes are quite mechanically unstable and that the films formed from such latexes are thermally unstable. In Canadian sa mp1 e Percent Transmlssiofl Patent No. 566,150, issued November 18, 1958, to Greenspan and Gall, it is suggested that polyvalent salts of cerhours 1 110111" 31101115 tain epoxy fatty acids can lend heat and light stability 1 83 1 80 4 69 0 PdYvinYl chlmide However, no e 832E?81as;aana' saaaaaetj:::::::::: 85:1 81:4 74:9

gestion lies in the art concerning the concurrent solving of the problem of film thermal stability and the mechanical stability of the latexes.

It is therefore an object of this invention to improve the mechanical stability of chloroethylenic polymer latexes.

It is a further object to improve the thermal stability of films made from such chloroethylenic polymer latexes.

It is a still further object that the improved mechanical stability of such latexes and the improved thermal stability of such films be secured simultaneously in a new com position containing chloroethylenic polymers.

We have now found that the foregoing and related objects can be obtained in a stabilized composition of a chloroethylenic polymer latex containing about one percent of an alkali metal salt of an epoxy fatty acid wherein said acid contains from about 16 to about 22 carbon atoms.

The unstable polymeric material adapted to be used in the compositions of the invention comprises any chloroethylenic polymer. This includes, in particular, homopolymers of vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride as well as copolymers and other interpolymers of vinyl chloride and/or vinylidene chloride with other ethylenic unsaturated comonomers such as vinyl acetate; acrylonitrile; vinyl proprionate; the alkyl, cycloalkyl, and aryl acrylates; and the like. The polymeric material also includes The foregoing example was repeated using latexes formed from polymers of vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride as well as copolymers of these materials with vinyl propionate, vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, alkyl acrylates, cycloalkyl acrylates, and aryl acrylates. The example was also repeated using the sodium and potassium salts listed above. Results comparable with those reported in the foregoing example were obtained.

We claim:

35 1. A stabilized composition of a chloroethylenic polymer latex containing about one percent of an alkali metal salt of an epoxy fatty acid, wherein said acid contains from about 16 to about 22 carbon atoms.

2. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the polymer is a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinylidine chloride.

3. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the polymer is a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl propionate.

4. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the polymer is a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate.

5. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the polymer is a copolymer of vinyl chloride and an alkyl late. blends of a chloroethylemc polymer or copolymer with a acry non-chlorine containing polymer or copolymer. Degi g g gg fi i fi z g g s i i radation of relatively small proportions of chloroethyl- Egg cop ym r y e y enic polymers can affect significantly relatively large proportions of other polymers associated therewith.

The stabilizing materials, the alkali metal salts of epoxy fatty acids, of particular concern in the invention are the sodium and potassium salts of the epoxy derivatives of oleic, palmitic, margaric, stearic, nondecylic, arachidic, and behinic acids. Sodium epoxystearate is 7. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the alkali metal salt is sodium epoxystearate.

8. A thermally stabilized film of a chloroethylenic polymer containing about one percent of an alkali metal salt of an epoxy fatty acid, wherein said acid contains from about 16 to about 22 carbon atoms.

9. The composition according to claim 8 wherein the especially suitable. The stabilizer is added to the com- Polymer is a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinylideng position in an optimum proportion of about one percent ch1oride by Weight This P p however, is not critical and 10. The composition according to claim 8 wherein the the advantages of the invention can be secured with some olymer is a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl prodegree of latitude in the proportion of stabilizer used. 5 pionate.

3 11. The composition according to claim 8 wherein the 15. A stabilized chloroethylenic polymer composition polymer is a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl containing about one percent of an alkali metal salt of acetate. an epoxy fatty acid, wherein said acid contains from" 12. The composition according to claim 8 wherein the about 16 to about 22 carbon atoms. polymer is a copolymer of vinyl chloride and an alkyl acry1ate References Cited in the file of this patent 13. The composition according to claim 8 wherein the UNITED STATES PA E S polylmer is a copolymer of vinyl chloride and an aryl 2,684,353 Greenspan et 81; L July 20 1954 my 2,902,465 Bavely Sept. 1, 1959 14. The composition according to claim 8 wherein the 10 alkali metal salt is sodium epoxystearate.

2,934,507 Chadwick et al. Apr. 26, 1960 

1. A STABILIZED COMPOSITION OF A CHLOROETHYLENIC POLYMER LATEX CONTAINING ABOUT ONE PERCENT OF AN ALKALI METAL SALT OF AN EPOXY FATTY ACID, WHEREIN SAID ACID CONTAINS FROM ABOUT 16 TO ABOUT 22 CARBON ATOMS. 